7 weeks is a hell of a long time.
I'm finding myself a phenominally busy person, with life occupying a great majority of my time, with the rest of it being spent in relative isolation behind my (perennially unlocked) door.
FilmSoc takes up the most noticable chunk of my life, with set-ups taking an hour or so with the Ents Crew. I always come away fatigued from that, as I am prone to get overly stressed over small,-yet at the time, vital- things. It becomes disheartening when the members of the society quite candidly could not give a toss how much effort you put into what you do for them. On the 31st I spent at least 6 hours on the job (Ents double that) organisint a big sound system in the Union's big auditorium. We had capacity for 250, and 50 turned up - this desptire a blanket poster campaign and emailing. At times I'd like nothing better than to utter one final "fuck you" and be done with it, but I'm not prone to such extreme action.It will get the better of me some day.
Andrew came down for a detox weekend. He brought with him a healthy dose of reality to a very unreal place. No-one else I know can make me laugh as much as he can, even with the smallest, most silly things. He seems to be getting better with the wholse fucking mess that is his living situation, and I doubt very much much of my advice has gone into practice... But it's his life, and it's not my place to dictate. It's all distant, and hazy from my standpoint, like every other damn thing in the wider world.
But then again, I enjoy it that way. I revel in being hard to reach, remote- even within the town, hell, even in my own flat. It's a very selfish life, but still one I find myself wallowing in.
Flat life is fantastic. The people I'm with ar perfect. Everyone does thier bit, and no-one falls out or takes things too seriously (except me, perhaps)..It truly is a free life.
Except the work. The workrate is high and constant. But again, I like it like that. Biology is so engaging, so fufilling. It's everything I worked my arse off in school to have. The students and fine, the lectureres and staffare on the whole polite and enthusiastic, and some even make the effort to learn your name, which means the world to me, especially when it come to doctors and professors I suspect may become "mentors" of a sort. It stimulates me so much, pervades everything I do and think.
This was evidenced in a short horror story I based around scuba diving and submitted to a Halloween competition rune by the english department. I won. The first competition I have ever won.It was a landmark for me (but perhaps alienated some of my friends in the department).
I'm up north now for reading week, with two 2000 word essays to finish before Monday, so naturally I'm procrastinating. Time to pull the thumb out tomorrow. I must finish the first drafts. I must...
Late night again. Time to wrap this up.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Friday, October 01, 2004
For God's sake, it's October.
Raining like a sonofabitch down here, but as it's not windy, it happens to be quite pretty.
Recap then: for those that don't know, I'm back down in the educated climes of St Andrews, in the brand new and rather spiffy David Russell Apartments. Take a ganders here: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~drafp/dra_apartments/pictures_of_dra.shtml (note, the flatmates are not my own).
Fresher's week came and went, without soo much incident. Matriculation was much less of a slog this year, and I got a suprise visit from Tom G, which was pleasent. I took him on as much of a pub crawl as I've ever been on, and found out that the Byre Theatre bar here mixed the best long vodkas and white russians in the known universe. Again, that it rather pleasing.
On the Sunday I ran the freshers fair stall for FilmSoc along with a new compatriot, and made over £400, which is a LOT considering: A. The amount of members that usually pay, and B. The sheer volume of societies we have in St Andrews. I was quite proud. The society is easting up a lot of my time, however, and I do have doubts now and again over wether or not I can afford to continue to devote so much time to it without it having a detrimental effect on my study.
Speaking of which, I'm in the "noticed" books of one of my botany lecturers for my enthusiam and nomenclature during a botanical garden feild trip. First time I've felt a personal toutch to my studies since I left the academy. Onwards and upwards.
Which is more than can be said for a great many of my friends at the moment. Quite a few seem to bet getting the shitty end of the stick at that moment, and it's just not fucking fair. It's really hard to converse about personal happiness when you know that those closest to you could well be falling apart. There's a terrible, sickening feeling when you know that if you were close by that you might be able to help a situation just a little, but 150 miles from home, there's just so little you can do for those you love.
Just seems to be symptomatic of back home. The day before I left a was verbally started on by some little druggie thug puke in the ship (and it may well have gotten physical had it not been for the landlord), who when ejeceted, proceeded to kick in the windows. The saddest part of it all is that such behavior is considered part and parcel of buisiness back home. The lack of outrage is what outrages me.
So here I am in DisneyLife, half the reality of actual life, half the pain.
I am a phenomenally lucky person.
Raining like a sonofabitch down here, but as it's not windy, it happens to be quite pretty.
Recap then: for those that don't know, I'm back down in the educated climes of St Andrews, in the brand new and rather spiffy David Russell Apartments. Take a ganders here: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~drafp/dra_apartments/pictures_of_dra.shtml (note, the flatmates are not my own).
Fresher's week came and went, without soo much incident. Matriculation was much less of a slog this year, and I got a suprise visit from Tom G, which was pleasent. I took him on as much of a pub crawl as I've ever been on, and found out that the Byre Theatre bar here mixed the best long vodkas and white russians in the known universe. Again, that it rather pleasing.
On the Sunday I ran the freshers fair stall for FilmSoc along with a new compatriot, and made over £400, which is a LOT considering: A. The amount of members that usually pay, and B. The sheer volume of societies we have in St Andrews. I was quite proud. The society is easting up a lot of my time, however, and I do have doubts now and again over wether or not I can afford to continue to devote so much time to it without it having a detrimental effect on my study.
Speaking of which, I'm in the "noticed" books of one of my botany lecturers for my enthusiam and nomenclature during a botanical garden feild trip. First time I've felt a personal toutch to my studies since I left the academy. Onwards and upwards.
Which is more than can be said for a great many of my friends at the moment. Quite a few seem to bet getting the shitty end of the stick at that moment, and it's just not fucking fair. It's really hard to converse about personal happiness when you know that those closest to you could well be falling apart. There's a terrible, sickening feeling when you know that if you were close by that you might be able to help a situation just a little, but 150 miles from home, there's just so little you can do for those you love.
Just seems to be symptomatic of back home. The day before I left a was verbally started on by some little druggie thug puke in the ship (and it may well have gotten physical had it not been for the landlord), who when ejeceted, proceeded to kick in the windows. The saddest part of it all is that such behavior is considered part and parcel of buisiness back home. The lack of outrage is what outrages me.
So here I am in DisneyLife, half the reality of actual life, half the pain.
I am a phenomenally lucky person.
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Well, it's all over. For those you you not in the know, I'm back on these fair shores, where nothing works properly, everbody complains and generally take life far too seriously. Must be the temperature.
At any rate, nothing says "welcome home" quite like being told that your dog is dead ten minutes after completing a twenty hour period of transit. Tiggy was diabtic with a heart murmur, but conveyed no real impression that she was on death's door. Then again, to live is to suffer, and while afflicted with these things, Tiggy had a very good run of things, and I'd like to think she was happy. Hope she's doing well in whatever life she's at now.
Fired from the better life down under, I'm now determined not to let things get to me as they so often normally do. Indeed, "no worries" is a mantra everone should start living their lives by. It really does seem to make people happier. I'm not saying we should all just pretend that bad things don't happen to us and others, but rather we shoud embrace these things with as much entusiasm as we would to somethibng better that happens.
Right, I'm off to play Doom 3 now. It's Terrifying.
whimper.
At any rate, nothing says "welcome home" quite like being told that your dog is dead ten minutes after completing a twenty hour period of transit. Tiggy was diabtic with a heart murmur, but conveyed no real impression that she was on death's door. Then again, to live is to suffer, and while afflicted with these things, Tiggy had a very good run of things, and I'd like to think she was happy. Hope she's doing well in whatever life she's at now.
Fired from the better life down under, I'm now determined not to let things get to me as they so often normally do. Indeed, "no worries" is a mantra everone should start living their lives by. It really does seem to make people happier. I'm not saying we should all just pretend that bad things don't happen to us and others, but rather we shoud embrace these things with as much entusiasm as we would to somethibng better that happens.
Right, I'm off to play Doom 3 now. It's Terrifying.
whimper.
Monday, August 09, 2004
I'm in the gorgeous Changi Airport, Singapore.
THis city is brilliant. The technology is so cheap (al long as you're preparted to haggle). I got 512mb of RAM for 35 quid. Brilliant. And everything else you could possibly want, not just electronics, is available at negotiable prices.
It's also the country's 39th birthday today, so as well as some big celebrations, the prices come down further still...
Had high tea at Raffles. A very curious experience to have squeaky-clean Englishness on the equator. Plus, I learned that the Singapore Sling is a luridly pink, premixed monstrosity. Ah well.
Anyway, it's nearly time to leave for good. I'm inconsolably heartbroken, to be honest, and will endevour to return ASAP.
Anyway, there's duty free to persue now, and the flight isn't far off.
You'll see me soon...
THis city is brilliant. The technology is so cheap (al long as you're preparted to haggle). I got 512mb of RAM for 35 quid. Brilliant. And everything else you could possibly want, not just electronics, is available at negotiable prices.
It's also the country's 39th birthday today, so as well as some big celebrations, the prices come down further still...
Had high tea at Raffles. A very curious experience to have squeaky-clean Englishness on the equator. Plus, I learned that the Singapore Sling is a luridly pink, premixed monstrosity. Ah well.
Anyway, it's nearly time to leave for good. I'm inconsolably heartbroken, to be honest, and will endevour to return ASAP.
Anyway, there's duty free to persue now, and the flight isn't far off.
You'll see me soon...
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Just a little footnote: Australia has some lovely, if unusual, food.
Crocodile is nice(ish), but is very very very tough. And has no flavour.
Barramundi is a beautiful alternative to the usual fare back home. And Fish 'n' Chips is a somewhat gourmet affair in Oz.
Nicest of all however, is Kangaroo. It tastes somewhere between lamb and beef, but it has to be eaten medium rare, otherwise it's as tough as a Cassowarie's nadsack.
I look forward to some more tropical food later on, including the infamous Durian fruit (smells like an open sewer, tastes like toffee). Untill then, Bon Appetite!
Crocodile is nice(ish), but is very very very tough. And has no flavour.
Barramundi is a beautiful alternative to the usual fare back home. And Fish 'n' Chips is a somewhat gourmet affair in Oz.
Nicest of all however, is Kangaroo. It tastes somewhere between lamb and beef, but it has to be eaten medium rare, otherwise it's as tough as a Cassowarie's nadsack.
I look forward to some more tropical food later on, including the infamous Durian fruit (smells like an open sewer, tastes like toffee). Untill then, Bon Appetite!
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
7:37 Local Time
I've found, in a discreet little corner of the hotel, a free internet access site, and I'm finally able to see my e-mail. There's nothing important in my inbox.
Anyway, the reef. I spent three days aboard the Anaconda III, a "mega yacht" which cruises around the Whitsunday Islands, near Mackay in Queensland. There was a large contingent of Scots on board, as well as some Irish, German, Canadian and Dutch travellers. Nerly all were Academic Career types, but we gelled quite quickly. Or captain, Max (as stereotypically a crusty old seadog as you could ever hope to meet) sailed, or rather smoked a lot and occaisonally turned a hilariously large wheel, to some islands and the Outer Reef.
I dived a total of five times off the ship, and let me tell you, nothing compares to this place. The diving is simply mind-blowing. All those aquarium fish youve seen, all those David Attenborugh programs you watched: It's like that, but you are actually experiencing it. Those parrotfish acutally swam past you. That stingray acutually just jetted off before your eyes. Yes, that is a turtle under that coral overhang, and he's giving you a look that says "Fuck off, I'm trying to sleep here, you bubble blowing, nitrogen intolerant, day-glo coloured retard." as you pat him on the head. There's just nothing else that compared to a dive here, truly and honestly.
I'm now on Hamilton island, which is like an upper-middle class version of the reef, for upper-middle class yuppies who don't want to deal with actually being in Australia and all the idosyncracies it has (such as being called a whinging pom, which all these upper-middle class yuppie morons are). Its a "safe", single-serving version of the area, and concequently, utterly boring and unforgivably dull. Still, it's as good a place as any to finish reading those novels you've meant to finish ages ago, and the Cockatoos that line up around you begging for tidbits provite no end of amusement. Untill they get bored with you and bugger off to beg at someone else.
Right, so that's me and my life until Friday, at which point I'll have and hour in Melborne and a long flight to Singapore. More later. Stay happy, all.
I've found, in a discreet little corner of the hotel, a free internet access site, and I'm finally able to see my e-mail. There's nothing important in my inbox.
Anyway, the reef. I spent three days aboard the Anaconda III, a "mega yacht" which cruises around the Whitsunday Islands, near Mackay in Queensland. There was a large contingent of Scots on board, as well as some Irish, German, Canadian and Dutch travellers. Nerly all were Academic Career types, but we gelled quite quickly. Or captain, Max (as stereotypically a crusty old seadog as you could ever hope to meet) sailed, or rather smoked a lot and occaisonally turned a hilariously large wheel, to some islands and the Outer Reef.
I dived a total of five times off the ship, and let me tell you, nothing compares to this place. The diving is simply mind-blowing. All those aquarium fish youve seen, all those David Attenborugh programs you watched: It's like that, but you are actually experiencing it. Those parrotfish acutally swam past you. That stingray acutually just jetted off before your eyes. Yes, that is a turtle under that coral overhang, and he's giving you a look that says "Fuck off, I'm trying to sleep here, you bubble blowing, nitrogen intolerant, day-glo coloured retard." as you pat him on the head. There's just nothing else that compared to a dive here, truly and honestly.
I'm now on Hamilton island, which is like an upper-middle class version of the reef, for upper-middle class yuppies who don't want to deal with actually being in Australia and all the idosyncracies it has (such as being called a whinging pom, which all these upper-middle class yuppie morons are). Its a "safe", single-serving version of the area, and concequently, utterly boring and unforgivably dull. Still, it's as good a place as any to finish reading those novels you've meant to finish ages ago, and the Cockatoos that line up around you begging for tidbits provite no end of amusement. Untill they get bored with you and bugger off to beg at someone else.
Right, so that's me and my life until Friday, at which point I'll have and hour in Melborne and a long flight to Singapore. More later. Stay happy, all.
Monday, August 02, 2004
What a couple of days. I write this to you from a crappy hotel-tv version of an acess terminal, and it's infuriating me, so I'll keep this brief untill I can find an alternate method.
The great Barrier Reef is amazing. Words fail me to describe its beauty. Scores of colourful fish. Warm, pristine waters. Fields of coral. I nearly wept.
I did five dives out there in the course of three days, including a night dive (one of the most trippy things you can possibly do, IMO. It's actually possible to forget which way is up.).
I'm now on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays untill friday. I plan to do a few Bush Hikes and maybe work on a tan or somthing like all the toned and rich people around here have. Maybe.
After that, Hello Singapore! More updates as soon as I find a good terminal.
Be Happy, all.
The great Barrier Reef is amazing. Words fail me to describe its beauty. Scores of colourful fish. Warm, pristine waters. Fields of coral. I nearly wept.
I did five dives out there in the course of three days, including a night dive (one of the most trippy things you can possibly do, IMO. It's actually possible to forget which way is up.).
I'm now on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays untill friday. I plan to do a few Bush Hikes and maybe work on a tan or somthing like all the toned and rich people around here have. Maybe.
After that, Hello Singapore! More updates as soon as I find a good terminal.
Be Happy, all.
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Blimey. Long time between posts, I know, but I've been out of contact for that long.
The outback is as orange is it is in all the photos. Uluru is immense (takes 4 hours to walk a circle round it), and well worth seeing, despite the shallow nature of the resort and the lacklustre exhibits there. No Aboriginies in sight though, which is a little odd. Then again, it is a desert.
The night sky there is unbeliveable, and well worth braving the freezing temeratures.
On to tropical North Queensland now, where the rainforest sits side-by-side with the Great Barrier Reef. What a place it is too. The rainforest stretches on for miles. From Cairns (the main town up here), you can get a ski-lift over the canopy (they call it "sky rail"), from where you can watch parrots and cockatoos darting about. But it's at ground level that you truly realise the beauty of the place. Once you get over that fact that all the houseplants you have in little pots back home are growing outside and are 10 times as big! Amazing.
A weekend trip to the ripoff that is the Fitzroy Island resort was a necessary evil, as I met up with Stuart to undergo a "Level-Up" to a PADI "Advanced Open Water Diver" Certificate. All it really means is that I can go to 30 metres without getting nitrogen narcosis, and where's the fun in that? Still, the reef is mind-blowing. I've found Nemo several lime over, and have got over the fact that all these aquarium fish are swimming outside and are 10 times as big! Astounding.
I leave Cairns tommorrow for Hamilton Island, and a few days sailing around the Whitsunday Islands on the "Anaconda III". Sounds like an unwisly made sequel, but I'll wait and see it before I make a final verdict. Anywho, I'll be dropping out the loop for a few more days, so until next time; be lucky, oi oi!
The outback is as orange is it is in all the photos. Uluru is immense (takes 4 hours to walk a circle round it), and well worth seeing, despite the shallow nature of the resort and the lacklustre exhibits there. No Aboriginies in sight though, which is a little odd. Then again, it is a desert.
The night sky there is unbeliveable, and well worth braving the freezing temeratures.
On to tropical North Queensland now, where the rainforest sits side-by-side with the Great Barrier Reef. What a place it is too. The rainforest stretches on for miles. From Cairns (the main town up here), you can get a ski-lift over the canopy (they call it "sky rail"), from where you can watch parrots and cockatoos darting about. But it's at ground level that you truly realise the beauty of the place. Once you get over that fact that all the houseplants you have in little pots back home are growing outside and are 10 times as big! Amazing.
A weekend trip to the ripoff that is the Fitzroy Island resort was a necessary evil, as I met up with Stuart to undergo a "Level-Up" to a PADI "Advanced Open Water Diver" Certificate. All it really means is that I can go to 30 metres without getting nitrogen narcosis, and where's the fun in that? Still, the reef is mind-blowing. I've found Nemo several lime over, and have got over the fact that all these aquarium fish are swimming outside and are 10 times as big! Astounding.
I leave Cairns tommorrow for Hamilton Island, and a few days sailing around the Whitsunday Islands on the "Anaconda III". Sounds like an unwisly made sequel, but I'll wait and see it before I make a final verdict. Anywho, I'll be dropping out the loop for a few more days, so until next time; be lucky, oi oi!
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
5:47 Local time.
Wandered aimlessly around the district known as "The Rocks". Very nice, lots of shops nearly all of which sell the most tacky and hackneyed souvenirs imaginable. Naturally, I bought a few of those items. Circular Quay, just beside it, is much more upmarket, but a tad soulless. However, this was lightened by some Aboriginal buskers playing on thier dijeridus.
This is my last day in Sydney, and I quite frankly love it. As generic a city as it may appear to be at first, there's a real heart here just below the surface. The people here are ceaselessly friendly and very obliging hosts, and for all thier idiosyncraies, I wouldn't have them change one bit.
Off to the Outback tomorrow, for a day's stopover at Uluru. Weather will be much hotter (huzzah), but it is the middle of God's great nowhere.
Time to Log off now, before the fog-hornesqe droning of the lothesome Alabamians behind be drive me to some sort of creativity with my newly purchased boomerang...
Wandered aimlessly around the district known as "The Rocks". Very nice, lots of shops nearly all of which sell the most tacky and hackneyed souvenirs imaginable. Naturally, I bought a few of those items. Circular Quay, just beside it, is much more upmarket, but a tad soulless. However, this was lightened by some Aboriginal buskers playing on thier dijeridus.
This is my last day in Sydney, and I quite frankly love it. As generic a city as it may appear to be at first, there's a real heart here just below the surface. The people here are ceaselessly friendly and very obliging hosts, and for all thier idiosyncraies, I wouldn't have them change one bit.
Off to the Outback tomorrow, for a day's stopover at Uluru. Weather will be much hotter (huzzah), but it is the middle of God's great nowhere.
Time to Log off now, before the fog-hornesqe droning of the lothesome Alabamians behind be drive me to some sort of creativity with my newly purchased boomerang...
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
22:17 Local Time
Sydney. Wow.
This place truly is quite amazing. First: the weather. It's midwinter in the southern hemisphere, but today the city is very sunny, reasonably warm (12 C) and all the leaves are still on the gum trees.
Yesterday I went to the aquarium. It's a truly world-class affair, and I've seen things I've never seen before. Pacific Stingrays, for example, are absolutly fecking HUGE. Somthing I never knew. Anyway, I was massivle blown away by the whole affair. Amazing. The Opera house, too, is so very, very cool in personj. The architecture is superb (the white of the outside id overed in white and beige self-cleaning tiles. From Sweeden), and the auditory attewntion to detail that has gone into the main auditorium is insane.
Today I want to a wildlife park that was far too touristy for it's own goo,d but the upshot of that is that I fed Kangaroos, stroked Koalas and witnessed the immensity that is a Saltwater Crocodile. Those bastards and massive. Bondi beach, hoever, could be any other beach you've been to, only with marginally better sand. The cath to swimming there is evdient from the strandline - its littered with "bluebottles" (portugese man-of-war), which are so tiny it's wonder so many people get stung by them.
Anyway, I'm just back from a lovely (and cheap) meal in Chinatown, which - like everything in Australia - is a much friendlier affair that thier overseas equvilent.
Anyway, it's my last full day in Sydney tomorrow before I move on the Uluru on Thursday.
It just occured to me that by sending this message back to the UK, I'm effectivly sending it BACK IN TIME!!! Hope none of you come over and shoot me before I have time to pet the wallabys...
Sydney. Wow.
This place truly is quite amazing. First: the weather. It's midwinter in the southern hemisphere, but today the city is very sunny, reasonably warm (12 C) and all the leaves are still on the gum trees.
Yesterday I went to the aquarium. It's a truly world-class affair, and I've seen things I've never seen before. Pacific Stingrays, for example, are absolutly fecking HUGE. Somthing I never knew. Anyway, I was massivle blown away by the whole affair. Amazing. The Opera house, too, is so very, very cool in personj. The architecture is superb (the white of the outside id overed in white and beige self-cleaning tiles. From Sweeden), and the auditory attewntion to detail that has gone into the main auditorium is insane.
Today I want to a wildlife park that was far too touristy for it's own goo,d but the upshot of that is that I fed Kangaroos, stroked Koalas and witnessed the immensity that is a Saltwater Crocodile. Those bastards and massive. Bondi beach, hoever, could be any other beach you've been to, only with marginally better sand. The cath to swimming there is evdient from the strandline - its littered with "bluebottles" (portugese man-of-war), which are so tiny it's wonder so many people get stung by them.
Anyway, I'm just back from a lovely (and cheap) meal in Chinatown, which - like everything in Australia - is a much friendlier affair that thier overseas equvilent.
Anyway, it's my last full day in Sydney tomorrow before I move on the Uluru on Thursday.
It just occured to me that by sending this message back to the UK, I'm effectivly sending it BACK IN TIME!!! Hope none of you come over and shoot me before I have time to pet the wallabys...
Monday, July 19, 2004
It's 9:30am local time and the wonderful land of Australia beckons. I've survived the 20+ hours of flight time better than I thought, and there's no jet lag to speak of on my board.
Sydney is suprisingly cold ('roud about the 10C mark), but it's vibrant and very welcoming. Australia is massivly efficient from all I have seen, and there are all the indications that I'm gonna love it here.
Anyway, I cant hang around here and type on when there's a whole day of coolness ahead. The Sydney Aquarium beckons!
Stay tuned for updates on my progress.
Peace all.
Sydney is suprisingly cold ('roud about the 10C mark), but it's vibrant and very welcoming. Australia is massivly efficient from all I have seen, and there are all the indications that I'm gonna love it here.
Anyway, I cant hang around here and type on when there's a whole day of coolness ahead. The Sydney Aquarium beckons!
Stay tuned for updates on my progress.
Peace all.
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Sunday, February 22, 2004
Another long interval between posts. I do apologise, but time really is fleeting when it comes to getting on with this sort of thing. There's always something else to consume my time. Consume...
This week saw my first very basic introduction to marine biology. It really reaffirmed something for me, in that I again was rapt by the creatures of the world's oceans, something that I may admit had waned slightly in me.
I also joined a folk jamming group this week, and am all the more confident with the old 'Jo because of it. The guys there are really cool cats, though the "audience" (read: pubgoers) really couldn't care less. Their loss. That being said, there were a buch of canadians who came in after the Union closed, who proceeded to whoop and cheer at us, ant call us all "SICK!", which apparently is a compliment. Ah well.
Also earned kudoes by singing "bad moon rising" at the Thursday night kareoke spree at the Union, much to the plaudits of the group of girls who live below me, and will no doubt call me "banjo man" for the rest of my days. I'm sure there are worse names to go by in this life...
Went to Berwick this weekend, and am just now back. There's nothing quite like the hospitality of your Grandparents to take your mind off everything ,and I never realised how much a really needed it untill it was given to me. That, and the fact that the greatest cheese scones on the entire planet are made there, and there's a recapie for total bliss.
Spending time with people of my granparents' age does throw a lot of things into sharp relief, and also lets the mind wander into darker places - forcing me to address thing I know I need to address, but don't really want to. A few things I saw and heard made me think really deeply about my values and outlook, and I still haven't come to a satisfactory conclusion about them yet. It's something I don't want to lose sight of, even though I know that day-to-day life will most likley take it from me.
Other than that it was a very peaceful weekend, and filled with the most genuine people I'll ever have the pleasure to meet (and never meet) again.
Also, Virgin trains are the most wonderfult trains I've ever been on.
That'll do for now.
This week saw my first very basic introduction to marine biology. It really reaffirmed something for me, in that I again was rapt by the creatures of the world's oceans, something that I may admit had waned slightly in me.
I also joined a folk jamming group this week, and am all the more confident with the old 'Jo because of it. The guys there are really cool cats, though the "audience" (read: pubgoers) really couldn't care less. Their loss. That being said, there were a buch of canadians who came in after the Union closed, who proceeded to whoop and cheer at us, ant call us all "SICK!", which apparently is a compliment. Ah well.
Also earned kudoes by singing "bad moon rising" at the Thursday night kareoke spree at the Union, much to the plaudits of the group of girls who live below me, and will no doubt call me "banjo man" for the rest of my days. I'm sure there are worse names to go by in this life...
Went to Berwick this weekend, and am just now back. There's nothing quite like the hospitality of your Grandparents to take your mind off everything ,and I never realised how much a really needed it untill it was given to me. That, and the fact that the greatest cheese scones on the entire planet are made there, and there's a recapie for total bliss.
Spending time with people of my granparents' age does throw a lot of things into sharp relief, and also lets the mind wander into darker places - forcing me to address thing I know I need to address, but don't really want to. A few things I saw and heard made me think really deeply about my values and outlook, and I still haven't come to a satisfactory conclusion about them yet. It's something I don't want to lose sight of, even though I know that day-to-day life will most likley take it from me.
Other than that it was a very peaceful weekend, and filled with the most genuine people I'll ever have the pleasure to meet (and never meet) again.
Also, Virgin trains are the most wonderfult trains I've ever been on.
That'll do for now.
Monday, February 02, 2004
Now then. I'm typing this from a very swish public library in Stratford-upon-Avon. Very cultural it is too.
The south of this nation is pleasantly warm, even in February, despite that everyone I see on the street as all wrapped up in various coats.
Stratford itself is a quirky little place, with a mix of industrial age-brickwork sitting neatly alongside various tudor-style oak beamed houses. It's cultural history has now, however, prevented the endless onslaught of consumerisim from digging in like an Alabama tick. Marks and Spencers nestle alongside HMV, all wrapped up in the old preserved shells of more historical buildings. It really does seem that there are fewer and fewer places to hide from this kind of thing. Having just come from meeting relatives in Herefordshire, I know how picture-postcard England can still exist, but this just feels like DisneyEngland(TM).
Maybe it's just beacuse that the Royal Shakespere Company's latest production is totally sold out for the rest of the month, therefore preventing me seeing it, but I feel as if the siginificane of this town is long gone. It is, however, very pleasant to just become lost on your own in these strange places. It's quite gratifying to feeel totally alien, even in a country that speaks (more or less) the same language.
Tomorrow I'm going to Birmingham, as I'm here with the parents as the jouney though a trade show at the NEC. I will be going into the town itself, however, so I'll let you all know how that goes.
Expect a new website coming soon (within the next month or so), as I've got some new webspace.
Right, I'm goona use what time I have left here to surf a bit, so I'll see you all soon.
The south of this nation is pleasantly warm, even in February, despite that everyone I see on the street as all wrapped up in various coats.
Stratford itself is a quirky little place, with a mix of industrial age-brickwork sitting neatly alongside various tudor-style oak beamed houses. It's cultural history has now, however, prevented the endless onslaught of consumerisim from digging in like an Alabama tick. Marks and Spencers nestle alongside HMV, all wrapped up in the old preserved shells of more historical buildings. It really does seem that there are fewer and fewer places to hide from this kind of thing. Having just come from meeting relatives in Herefordshire, I know how picture-postcard England can still exist, but this just feels like DisneyEngland(TM).
Maybe it's just beacuse that the Royal Shakespere Company's latest production is totally sold out for the rest of the month, therefore preventing me seeing it, but I feel as if the siginificane of this town is long gone. It is, however, very pleasant to just become lost on your own in these strange places. It's quite gratifying to feeel totally alien, even in a country that speaks (more or less) the same language.
Tomorrow I'm going to Birmingham, as I'm here with the parents as the jouney though a trade show at the NEC. I will be going into the town itself, however, so I'll let you all know how that goes.
Expect a new website coming soon (within the next month or so), as I've got some new webspace.
Right, I'm goona use what time I have left here to surf a bit, so I'll see you all soon.
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Right. Holiday over, exams over and very soon it will be time to start the second semester of my newfound life.
Yeep. What a year 2003 was. I had some very good highs, as well as one of the worst phases in my life that I dare remember. All gone now, and time to face up to the highs and lows of this year. First big low: my exams. I really should have revised more for them, but then again, all I need do for the next year is just pass them, not do well in them. Which is so-so. I'll work more at it this time around though. I have better subjects this time too - a no-brainer in IT, Biology of Organisims (cheerfully abbriviated to "BOO"), and the spolier that is Molecular Biology. Ah well, can't have everything.
First big high of the year: Lost in Translation. I expected to fall in love with this film, and bloody hell, I did as well. Such a reflection on life has never truly been done to my knowledge. And now I want to Japan even more now, if only to lip someone's stocking (see it and you'll understand).
Which reminds me, the Oscar Nominations are out. Here's my list of who/what should win if there's any justice in the world.
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Bill Murray - LOST IN TRANSLATION
(would accept Johnny Depp as a close 2nd)
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Ken Watanabe - THE LAST SAMURAI
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Keisha Castle-Hughes - WHALE RIDER
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Toss up between FINDING NEMO and BELLVILLE RENDEZ-VOUS
Whilst I know Nemo will win, I'd like to see the latter get it's due
CINEMATOGRAPHY
CITY OF GOD
DIRECTING
Either LOST IN TRANSLATION or CITY OF GOD
MUSIC (SCORE)
FINDING NEMO
BEST PICTURE
LOST IN TRANSLATION
- I've only just seen it, but it is THAT good.
Right, that's all I've to say for now, other that you shoud start listening to Lambchop (country by way of lounge jazz) and Yat-Kha (Rock by the man with the deepest singing voice in the world). Go do stuff.
Yeep. What a year 2003 was. I had some very good highs, as well as one of the worst phases in my life that I dare remember. All gone now, and time to face up to the highs and lows of this year. First big low: my exams. I really should have revised more for them, but then again, all I need do for the next year is just pass them, not do well in them. Which is so-so. I'll work more at it this time around though. I have better subjects this time too - a no-brainer in IT, Biology of Organisims (cheerfully abbriviated to "BOO"), and the spolier that is Molecular Biology. Ah well, can't have everything.
First big high of the year: Lost in Translation. I expected to fall in love with this film, and bloody hell, I did as well. Such a reflection on life has never truly been done to my knowledge. And now I want to Japan even more now, if only to lip someone's stocking (see it and you'll understand).
Which reminds me, the Oscar Nominations are out. Here's my list of who/what should win if there's any justice in the world.
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Bill Murray - LOST IN TRANSLATION
(would accept Johnny Depp as a close 2nd)
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Ken Watanabe - THE LAST SAMURAI
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Keisha Castle-Hughes - WHALE RIDER
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Toss up between FINDING NEMO and BELLVILLE RENDEZ-VOUS
Whilst I know Nemo will win, I'd like to see the latter get it's due
CINEMATOGRAPHY
CITY OF GOD
DIRECTING
Either LOST IN TRANSLATION or CITY OF GOD
MUSIC (SCORE)
FINDING NEMO
BEST PICTURE
LOST IN TRANSLATION
- I've only just seen it, but it is THAT good.
Right, that's all I've to say for now, other that you shoud start listening to Lambchop (country by way of lounge jazz) and Yat-Kha (Rock by the man with the deepest singing voice in the world). Go do stuff.
